New Year New You

So town where I live sponsors this New Year New You competition every year.  The idea is to spur/remind the community of the importance of exercise for health and eating your fruits and vegetables.  You earn points for eating your fruits and vegetables and exercising as well as working towards a health goal.  So this year I've jumped on board with a team from work and my husband is on board to.  We start the week of the 9th and it goes for 8 weeks.  Each team member is super accountable to their team because what you turn is a team average that actually gets printed in the local paper. 
I'm looking forward to the extra motivation.  I have invested in the Biggest Loser Challenge for Wii which I really do like.  It makes me feel like I'm actually working unlike Wii Fit.  I've also found that I can go back to spin class.  My breathing has much improved since my new allergy meds are in the picture and I have a rescue inhaler just in case. 
So this will be my next adventure.  

Merry Christmas (Eve)

As my husband sorts through his one present that he got to open my daughter sleep soundly in her bed.  I smile and think of how lucky I am to have them.  Merry Christmas to all.

Semester Closed

On Thursday, I entered in my grades and finished my semester.

Overall, it was good.  My students were participated in class, for the most part, which made my semester go well.  I have a decent start on my Spring semester syllabi.  I should be able to finish up during Christmas Break naps.  I was able to help out another department with their accreditation process.  And I am learning alot about the assessment process.  I was inspired to do more reading about pedagogy as well. It was an unexpected side effect.

Little Miss decided to go to bed early and I don't exactly know what to do with myself.  A part of me said yoga, a part of me wants to read, another play video games.  I don't have any new fiction to read (BUT I know that some must lie under the Christmas tree!) so I don't really want to restart something.  I may be ambitious and do yoga, but the cat might have the right idea about napping. I'm just not feeling the video games.  I'm watching cheesy Hallmark Christmas movies while putzing around on the internet. 

On an up note, I was able to make it through spin class today with only the normal level of heavy breathing and no trying to pass out.  I'm going to exercise all week, but getting up at 5:45 to make 6am exercise class just seems very early. 

I'm very excited for Christmas! I can wait for Little Miss to open presents.  I realize eventually she will feel hosed that she will sometimes get Christmas/Birthday gifts, but it is kinda fun.  As she gets bigger, we could just do a week of little presents to get to her birthday.  She is just going to be fun to open things with.  As I was telling my husband, opening gifts may take until nap time with all of the gift wrap ripping that will happen. 

We are having cupcakes in honor of Little Miss's birthday just after the new year.  I'm making snowman cupcakes and that's all the fussing I'm going to do.  They'll be cute and fun to smash. 

Well, time to decide if I do yoga or curl up on the couch.  I think it's still 50/50.

The End & Beginnings

I can admit it.  Professors look forward to finals week and break times just as much as students do.  My papers are graded and my tests are written.  I will have to grade the tests, of course, but that is not a giant hardship. 
I am currently working on my syllabi for next semester.  I should be able to finish my intro syllabus right away in the morning.  I was writing assignments, but my mind is about done.  I'm trying to figure out what to do to make my bio psychology class more exciting for my students and I.  I'm not sure what the answer is. I would like to finish all of my syllabi and my work for another department this week so I can just kick back all break.  We shall see. 
On a non-work related note, my allergies tried to make me pass out today.  I went to spin class and couldn't breathe, then couldn't catch my breath and keep my color.  It was super lame.  This lead to me going to the doctor, saying hello to my friend flonase (it's been so long since I was medicated regularly!), and getting a rescue inhaler just in case.  I'm thinking I will just hit the gym tomorrow with cardio at my own speed on the bike or elliptical to give my flonase a chance to catch up.  I'm hoping to not end up feeling like that again tomorrow.  I'm still rather tired as result of all that.
I'm still voting on snow for Christmas, but I think we are ready to go around here.  Christmas with Parker is going to be awesome.  She's going to love wrapping paper, I mean, her toys... 

Progress

I'll take time for a short little update, but that is all for now.  I'm going to attempt to work on some test writing.  I know that is rather sad as it is a Saturday night, but I'm 3 tests from being done with the semester. 
I successfully was thankful for 30 days via facebook.  It was a nice idea which I appreciated. 
I'm excited to start work on next semester's syllabi.  I love the planning side of things sometimes.  If I could justify it to myself, I would start now before my tests were written. 

I've been getting rid of some of the weight.  I need to be careful as it is the season of sweets, but I have high hopes for myself.  That's all I've got for now.

Grateful: Probably Part 1

This month I am trying to be grateful for the life that I have and the things I get to do.  I have a husband that just showed up on my doorstep and didn’t leave.  We’ve had our highs and lows and we work at our relationship, but that’s what you are supposed to do in any relationship, work.  

I have my beautiful daughter.  She’s the cutest little handful that a mom could ask for.  I’m so grateful for her.  Sometimes I wish I was a person who could stay at home with her all the time, but that would make both of us miserable over time (and my husband loves staying home with her and I could never take that from him).  I am grateful that I get holiday breaks and summer vacation to work sparingly and play abundantly.  I am also grateful for the wonderful people that I get to share baby girl with.  She’s got wonderful grandparents on both sides of the family, amazing godparents and other friends of ours.  It may sound strange, but it is a wonderful feeling watching someone play with your child.  Yes, I love playing with her, but seeing my husband cuddling her or even a good friend was cuddling and reading her a book the other day and I seriously almost started crying (then again, I’m a sap…). I think it’s because you get to step away for a second and think about how lucky you are.  

I am grateful for my health.  I have not been sick all semester (knock on wood that it will continue). That said, I know that I need to get of my ass.  I did successfully lose all of my baby weight and I am really proud of that.  However, I have an extra 10 pounds that have creeped on since I was married.  Now I don’t think I am in hellish shape.  I tend to work out 6 if not 7 days a week, but I’m not paying attention to what I’m eating.  I’m indulging in sweets whenever I want rather than sparingly.

 I know that makes me a sweet person (see link below) and all (and my friend who did this research would not lead me astray), but this weight is bothering me. 

For example, I can’t wear my wedding ring.  Now I’m not if this is because of this 10 pounds (because my wedding ring had gotten tight before baby) or if this my hands my joints in my hands have spread out like me feet did (I had to buy pretty much an entire new collection of shoes after I was done).  I’m stubborn and don’t want to get my ring resized if I don’t have to.  Yet, my daughter is almost 1 (oh lord…) and I still can’t wear my ring.  A friend posted a research summary about obesity and cancer (she works in the field). This reminded me of another reason of why I need to get off my ass, I want to be around to see my daughter grown up.  Now my mom wasn’t around due to cancer.  And don’t get me wrong, I lucked out. I’ve got an amazingly father and the best step-mom that a girl could ask for.  So ummm.. before I start blubbering while sitting at this computer, I’ll just leave it as I need to get moving and taking care of myself, for me and for my daughter.

Okay, I need to get to work already.  I got a sidetracked with wanting to get this out.

Sweets link:

 http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2011/10/28/will-eating-sweets-make-you-sweeter

Cancer link:

http://www.cancer.gov/ncicancerbulletin/111511/page3

Sometimes my lameness makes me laugh

So it's Saturday night. 
1) I should totally be sleeping.
2) The reason I am still awake, a combination of online Christmas shopping and house cleaning. Sometimes my lameness is overwhelming. 

Overall the Assessment Academy for work was very enlightening.  This is going to be a good project for me. I got a wake up call about some teaching related things that I need learn more about. I spent most of the week behind (totally lame), but I'm almost done with the pre-thanksgiving list.  I love love love week long thankgsgiving break.  You get a day or two to relax/get some extra work done and then can head off to visit my parents so they can spoil grandaughter to their hearts' content. AND once I get back IT'S TIME TO PUT UP CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS.  I do love that part so so much. 

I'm still trying to stay balanced.  I might get involved with a project at work that would be short term, but would help me make a little extra money for Christmas presents.  I am not sure if it will be worth the stress. I'm thinking on it and going to be talking it over with the husband.  It's important for me to stay afloat and not get so overwhelmed that I can't be here for daughter.  Because when I'm not on top of things, I start feeling all mom guilty... Anyway first Christmas and First Birthday will be here before we know it.  We've been picking out presents already!
Alright I'm going to bed already.